North Korea Fires Ballistic Missiles Off East Coast — SkimNews
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- North Korea fired multiple ballistic missiles toward the sea off its east coast on Monday at around 9:20 a.m. local time from near Pyongyang, according to South Korea's Joint Chiefs of Staff.
- Japan's coast guard reported two unidentified projectiles, believed to be ballistic missiles, and said both appeared to have already fallen, corroborating the South Korean account of the launch.
- Tensions between the two Koreas have escalated amid weapons tests by both countries and a border mine blast last month that wounded three South Korean soldiers; Seoul accused Pyongyang of planting the mines and demanded an apology, which Pyongyang rejected while accusing South Korea of provocation.
- South Korean President Lee Jae Myung personally oversaw the country's first test-firing of a hypersonic missile last week, a rare public showcasing of a missile test by a sitting South Korean president.
- Kim Yo Jong identified North Korea's October 3 ballistic missile launch as a test of an intermediate-range strategic missile, and Pyongyang has now conducted missile tests on more than 10 occasions this year.
Why it matters: The launch extends a tit-for-tat arms race: South Korean President Lee personally oversaw Seoul's first hypersonic missile test last week, and a border mine blast last month wounded three South Korean soldiers with each side blaming the other.
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